7 BRAND STORY say anybody who is a flexible professional who has all of these skills is going to be very valuable.” Pandemic-powered While there’s been a focus on UX for years, the COVID-19 pandemic really fueled the demand for improvements in the field. Everyone was working, learning and interacting from afar, putting UX to the test. “The need for good UX really became more important for businesses to survive during that time,” says Amber Lancaster, Associate Professor and Program Director for Oregon Tech’s Professional Writing program. “Interfaces weren’t where they needed to be, the apps weren’t where they needed to be. Companies realized they needed people to help them make sure their products and services were representing them in a good light and creating positive experiences for either shopping online, engaging online or even just living online at that time.” That demand fueled the need for more UX professionals, creating an opportunity for Oregon Tech to introduce its UX certificate programs. A $810,000 Workforce Ready grant from the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission also helped launch the programs. Stack ’em up While there is some slight overlap between the two Oregon Tech UX programs, and while both offer opportunities for students to learn from or even intern with real-world tech companies, each one covers unique ground. Both are designed to meet the needs of professionals who may already have some UX experience and those who see additional UX skills as a value-add for their careers. The UX Writing certificate focuses on content, messaging and strategy to meet users’ needs. The UX Research & Design certificate is more about understanding UX research methods, product design and aesthetics, and UX industry technologies (including AI). It also emphasizes how to optimize functionality, organization and other components. The UX Research & Design certificate can be stacked with the UX Writing “We believe there is a significant need for people with this training. I would say anybody who is a flexible professional who has all of these skills is going to be very valuable.” FRANNY HOWES, OREGON TECH PROFESSOR AND COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT CHAIR
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